Manufacture of cigarettes



W. E. MOLINS MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES March 28, 1939.

Filed Deo. 5, 1935 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE 0F CIGARETTES Application December 5, 1935, Serial No. 53,104 In Great Britain December 20, 1934 8 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the manufacture of cigarettes of the type in which a stub portion and a cigarette portion are secured together and abut endwise. Such cigarettes will be referred to in the appended claims as mouthpiece cigarettes.

The term stub shall include mouthpieces in the form of tubes of paper or other material which may be empty, or filled entirely or partly with ltering or flavouring material or tobacco. It will be appreciated that Where the tubes are not filled they should have suicient rigidity to enable them to remain open when the cigarettes are being smoked.

The term stub shall also be deemed to include a composite mouthpiece constituted in part by alength oi Wrapped cigarette rod, and in part by a length of filter or ilavouring material wrapped in a tubular wrapper or by a tubular piece which is either hollow or partly filled with filter or ilavouring material. The term stub shall also be deemed to include a mouthpiece comprising a length of tobacco iiller in a wrapper, which tobacco is of a different kind of tobacco from that forming the main body of the cigarette.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, the eiective aggregate length of the stub portions and cigarette portions being greater than the required length of the finished product, pressing the cigarettes and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction to reduce their effective overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material.

According to another form of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, the effective aggregate length of the stub portions and cigarette portions being greater than the required length of the nished product, pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction to reduce their effective overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and 'stub portions together by wrapping material while the cigarette and stub portions are moving lengthwlse.

According to a further form of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than the length required in the finished product, pressing the (Cl. IBL-52) cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction to reduce their overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material.

According to a further form of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than the length required in the nished product, moving the cigarette and stub portions lengthwise, and pressing them together in a lengthwise direction to reduce their overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material while the cigarette and stub portions are moving lengthwise.

The invention will now be more particularly described by Way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in section double length cigarette portions and double length stub portions aligned and before endwise pressure has been exerted on the cigarette and stub portions.

Figure 2 shows in section the parts in their relative positions after endwise pressure has been exerted, and after wrapping material has been applied to secure the parts together.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section of a completed cigarette.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a machine for manufacturing cigarettes according to the method of the present invention; and

Figure 'l' is an elevation of a device for applying axial pressure to the cigarette and stub portions in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Like references refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

In the case where a mouthpiece cigarette is to have the desired overall length of 70 m/m., the eiective overall length of the stub portion and cigarette portion is originally arranged to be '71 m/m. before the stub portion and cigarette portion are pressed into endwise engagement. After the endwise pressure has been exerted, the desired effective overall length becomes '70 m/m. In the drawings, cigarette portions I and stub portions 2, each of which are of double the length required in the finished cigarette, are spaced in alignment. The cigarette portions are made on the well-known continuous rod type machines,

and it is sometimes found that the cigarette portions formed on such machin-es do not have end faces which are absolutely at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes. The inclination of the end faces is, it will be understood, small, but it is frequently found that when the cigarette lengths are to be united with stub portions, the end portions do not abut perfectly over the whole of the abutting faces, but that there ar-e minute gaps between some portions of the abutting faces. Although such cigarettes are satisfactory, the present invention provides a method by means of which the cigarettes are improved. The improvement is greater when cigarette lengths and tobacco stubs are being united than when cigarette lengths and stubs which are not formed Wholly from tobacco are united.

It will be appreciated that the inclination of the end faces shown in Figure 1 and in the enlarged Figure 3, is exaggerated in order more clearly to show the effect which is obtained. If now sufficient endwise pressure is applied to the stub and cigarette portions to ensure that they are in proper contact with each other, the length of the finished mouthpiece cigarettes is less than the desired length. To give an example, according to this invention, the double length cigarettes are, when a 70 m/m. mouthpiece cigarette is required, made having a length of m/m., and are united with double length stub portions whose length is 22 m/m. It will be seen therefore that the overall length of a double length cigarette portion and double length stub portion is 142 m/m., and when the cigarette portions and stub portions have been pressed together, their overall length is m/m. When, therefore, the double length cigarette portion and the double length stub portion respectively is severed midway of its length, there is produced a mouthpiece cigarette whose overall length is 70 m/m.

As shown in the drawings, the stub portions and cigarette portions are united together by Wrapping material 3, which is composed of short lengths of material such for example as cork tip material. The Wrapping material is applied to the stub and cigarette portions while the stub and cigarette portions are being moved lengthwise, and after the portions have been pressed together in a lengthwise direction so as to cause the end faces of the portions I and 2 closely to abut in the manner shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

The example just described is applicable when the cigarettes and/or the tobacco stubs are of a soft nature, but in cases where the cigarettes and/or the stubs are more hard, that is to say, less compressible in the direction of their longitudinal axis, it is not necessary to make the eiective aggregate length so great. In this latter example the effective aggregate length before theY cigarette and stub are pressed into endwise engagement may be 70.5 m/m.

When the stub is not composed wholly of tobacco, for example, when it is composed of layers of crepe paper having layers of cellulosic material disposed between the layers of crepe paper, it is found that an effective aggregate length of from r10.1 m/rn. to 70.2 m/m. before the cigarette and stub are pressed into endwise engagement is usually sufficient. It is to be understood, however, that these dimensions may be smaller or greater according to the hard or soft nature respectively of the cigarettes being used.

It is found that by arranging the cigarette lengths and stub lengths, as set out above, it is possible to provide the necessary endwise pressure between the cigarettes and stub portions to ensure a good joint when the strip material is wrapped round the cigarettes.

Further, in the case where the stub portion and cigarette are moved axially while they are joined and secured together, it is possible to form a continuous composite rod in which the stub lengths and cigarette lengths abut closely without leaving gaps between the stubs and cig'- arettes.

A portion of a machine for manufacturing cigarettes in accordance with the method of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, such machine being more fully illustrated and described in applicants British Patent No. 430,- 742. That portion of the machine illustrated in Figure 6 comprises generally a frame I0 on which are supported means for conveying and acting upon the cigarettes and stub portions as hereinafter described.

Cigarette and stub portions are delivered in alternating arrangement to a conveyor belt II by means not illustrated in the present application but which are fully described and illustrated in applicants aforesaid British patent. The conveyor belt I I serves to advance said cigarette and stub portions toward and onto a conveyor belt I2, an upper conveyor belt I3 being adapted to cooperate with the belt I2 togrip and advance the cigarette and stub portions toward and onto the conveyor belt I4. As the alternate cigarette and stub portions are advanced in theV manner described, they are compressed axially, in accordance with the method o-f the present invention, by the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7. The latter comprises a rotating drum I5 having two apertures I6 in its cylindrical surface. Mounted on an annular flange in the drum I5 are two spring urged pivoted fingers II, which are arranged as cam followers to cooperate with a stationary cam I8. Thelatter is so shaped'that as the ngers I1 are moving along the conveyor belt I I, that is, when they are in engagement with the cigarette or stub portions, the driving face ofv each nger II remains perpendicular so long as it is in engagement with a cigarette or stub portion. By reason` of the positive driving action of the fingers Il on the cigarette andstub portions, the latter are compressed axially in the manner described above', the rotation ofthe drum I5 being so timed with respect to the speed of movement of the cigarette and stub portions, and their lengths, as to produce the desired compressive eiect.

Wrapping of the tip materialv about the cig,- arette and stub portions, in accordance with the present method, is accomplished by means of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 6. The wrapping or tipping material is fed from a supply spool 20 over a stationary plate 2i and between driving rollers 22 and 23. Strips or tips 3 (Figures 2 and- 4) are severed from the continuous length of wrapping material by an oscillating knife, which need not be described in detail, such severed lengths of material being moved to a perforated roller 24 about which the conveyor belt I2 travels. Gum or other adhesive is applied to the severed tip material by a roller 25 of any convenient design from a gum pot 26 through rollers 21 and 28.

'I'he conveyor belt I2 is perforated or porous and the tips or short lengths of wrapping material are held on to the conveyor belt by suction, from the time they reach the roller 24 until; they reach a point about halfv way along the shield 30. Suction is applied in the manner described in the aforementioned British patent. The tips are released from the conveyor belt I2 at the aforesaid point about half way along the shield 30 at which time they are in proper relation to the cigarettes and stubs, which have also been axially compressed in the manner described above, and have been gripped between the conveyor belts I2 and I3. The tips, together with the cigarette and stub portions, all in proper relationship, are then transferred to the conveyor belt I4, above which is provided folding mechanism for wrapping the tip material about the cigarette and stub portions, in a conventional manner.

By virtue of the above described mechanism it will be obvious that the cigarettes and stubs are maintained under the required axial pressure during the entire time that the tipping material is being supplied thereto and wrapped and sealed thereabout.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, the effective aggregate length of the stub portions and cigarette portions being greater than the required length of the finished product, pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduce their effective overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material. 2. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than the length required in the finished product, moving the cigarette and stub portions lengthwise, and pressing them together in a lengthwisedirection so as to reduce their overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material while the cigarette and stub portions are moving lengthwise.

3. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning double length stub portions and double length cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than twice the length required for the finished product, pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduce their overall length to the desired length, securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material, and severing the stub portions and cigarette portions substantially midway of their length.

4. A method of. manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning double length stub portions and double le-ngth cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than twice the length required in the finished product, moving the cigarette portions and stub portions in a lengthwise direction, and pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduce their length to the desired length, securing the cigarette and stub portions together by wrapping material while said portions are moving lengthwise, and severing the cigarette portions and stub portions substantially midway of their length.

5. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than the length required in the finished product, pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a llengthwise direction so as to reduce their overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions together by severed lengths of wrapping material.

6. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning double length stub portions and double length cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is. greater than twice the length required for the finished product, pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduce their effective overall length to the desired length, securing the cigarette and stub portions together by severed lengths of wrapping material, and severing the stub portions and cigarette portions substantially midway of their length.

7. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning stub portions and cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than the length required in the iinished product, moving the cigarette and stub portions lengthwise, and pressing them together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduc'e their overall length to the desired length, and securing the cigarette and stub portions. together by severed lengths of wrapping material while the cigarette and stub portions are moving lengthwise.

8. A method of manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes by aligning do-uble length stubI portions and double length cigarette portions, said cigarette portions having a length which is greater than twice the length required in the nished product, moving the cigarette portions and stub portions in a lengthwise direction, and pressing the cigarette and stub portions together in a lengthwise direction so as to reduce their length to the desired length, securing the cigarette and stub portions together by severed lengths of wrapping material while said portions are moving lengthwise, and severing the cigarette portions and stub portions substantially midway of their length.

HAROLD BERNARDO MOLINS. MOSES HYMAN ISAACS. Erecutors of the Estate of Walter E. Molins,

Deceased. 

